594:
373:
47:
542:
63:
511:
571:, and rededicated on 30 January 1996. It is a noted historic instrument, a significant monument to the work of William Hill, and, in addition, likely the largest repository of Father Smith pipework in a single instrument. The Parish Organ was built in 1991 by Kenneth Jones and Associates. It replaced an earlier instrument by Miller of Cambridge (one time organist of Great St Mary's) dating from 1869.
618:
70:
586:
To accommodate the large audiences that were present for special occasions, and in particular the
University Sermon, attendance of which was compulsory, the galleries were added in 1735. The church contains one of the few moveable pulpits in England. The font dates from 1632 and the sculpture behind
392:
presenting Thomas de
Chimeleye to the rectory in 1205. The foundations of the church may date to 1010, but the church was mostly destroyed by fire 9 July 1290 and then rebuilt. At the time, this fire was attributed to the Jewish population of the city, with the result that the synagogue was closed.
554:
St Mary the Great is unusual in housing two self-contained pipe organs, a 'Parish Organ' in the
Chancel for the regular congregation, and another in the West Gallery, called the 'University Organ', owned and maintained by the University, and played for University services. The University Organ was
356:. As such it has a role in the university's legislation. For example, university officers must live within 20 miles of Great St Mary's and undergraduates within three. The church also hosts the "University Sermons" and houses the University Organ and the University Clock. The latter chimes the "
393:
Prior to 1352, it was known as The Church of St Mary the Virgin, but since that year has become known by its modern name. During its early years, the patronage of the church (that is, the right to name the incumbent) belonged to the crown, but on 15 July 1342, the patronage was passed to
534:. The new ring of 13 bells in the key of D (including a flat bell no. 6 providing a lighter ring of 8 bells in the key of G) has a tenor weighing 24cwt. Some of the original bells have been retained to continue sounding the
522:
was formed to formalise the responsibility for ringing them. This society lays claim to being the oldest bellringing society in
Britain and the second oldest at any church in the world with a continuous ringing history.
1594:
732:
518:
Originally, bells were hung in a wooden structure in the churchyard. In 1515 the bells were moved to the tower and the structure was dismantled. The bells were replaced in 1722 and in 1724, the
1609:
881:
1619:
1477:
1155:
1604:
1599:
1356:
412:
93:
1624:
1226:
1487:
1568:
418:
In the Middle Ages it became an official gathering place for meetings and debates for
Cambridge University, but this ceased in 1730 when the University's
1497:
425:
The present building was constructed between 1478 and 1519, with the tower finished later, in 1608. The cost of construction was covered largely by
1296:
62:
419:
1542:
1386:
330:
1241:
1148:
1211:
1629:
1547:
415:
of the university by townspeople in 1381, the church was entered and bulls, charters and title deeds of the university were destroyed.
376:
A plaque at the base of the west tower marks the datum point for distances from
Cambridge, which were originally marked with the first
1346:
1326:
1077:
774:
1614:
1517:
1316:
1246:
1221:
769:
1589:
1492:
1442:
1396:
1351:
1286:
1271:
1141:
1512:
737:
1201:
909:
483:, the dust from the place of burning was replaced in the church and now lie under a brass floor plate in the south chancel.
1107:
1482:
1462:
1236:
404:
The orders for the consecration of the new church were sent out on 17 May 1346, but were not enacted until 15 March 1351.
1552:
1341:
1191:
593:
716:(1942–2018), theoretical physicist, funeral held on 31 March 2018 prior to his cremation and interring of his ashes in
1306:
1301:
932:
625:
519:
452:
in 1857. The south porch was rebuilt in 1888. There has been some more restoration work during the 20th century.
1371:
1281:
1196:
1051:
957:
398:
1391:
1291:
492:
394:
263:
166:
372:
741:
46:
722:
Jack
Merritt (1994–2019), prison educator and mentor, funeral held on 20 December 2019 prior to his cremation
1311:
559:. It was added to over the 18th and 19th centuries until a major (yet sensitive) rebuild was carried out by
353:
1276:
1256:
1165:
673:
564:
560:
426:
334:
149:
685:
541:
472:
441:
1457:
1381:
1251:
580:
445:
430:
1231:
527:
456:
408:
194:
1029:
587:
the high altar is of Christ in
Majesty. This sculpture was completed in 1960. The sculpture is by
1522:
1422:
357:
825:
796:
856:
1502:
1432:
1321:
1266:
1206:
717:
476:
310:
154:
129:
826:"Chapter II: Matriculation, Residence, Admission to Degrees, Discipline, Conduct, Complaints"
1467:
1412:
1376:
1366:
765:
655:
535:
510:
499:
338:
314:
295:
1085:
1437:
1361:
1261:
713:
667:
401:
the patronage of the
University Church also passed to Trinity, where it has rested since.
389:
342:
867:
Cooper, Charles Henry (1866) "Memorials of
Cambridge (Volume 3)", Cambridge: Wm Metcalfe.
1133:
1427:
1331:
649:
468:
449:
349:
251:
1583:
1472:
1417:
679:
568:
495:
161:
17:
1452:
1447:
1336:
1064:
707:
661:
556:
531:
464:
381:
567:(again remarkably sensitive for the time) and was extensively restored in 1995 by
1507:
986:
583:. The stained glass is the work of Hardman and was added between 1867 and 1869.
480:
437:
1186:
588:
258:
108:
95:
377:
318:
133:
514:
The Cambridge University Clock, set above the West door of Great St Mary's
360:" which were later used by the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament ("
555:
originally purchased in 1698, constructed by the renowned organ builder
460:
361:
270:
246:
280:
526:
In 2009 the old ring of bells was replaced with a new ring cast by
592:
540:
509:
371:
1137:
1128:
670:(1963–1970); afterwards Bishop of Kingston, then of Birmingham
612:
177:
733:
List of church restorations and alterations by Anthony Salvin
688:(1986–1993); afterwards Bishop of Lynn, then Dean of Windsor
597:
Cambridge University, Great St. Mary's Church (photograph
1008:
857:
The city of Cambridge – Churches | British History Online
479:, Bucer's corpse was burnt in the marketplace, but under
1595:
Buildings and structures of the University of Cambridge
629:
927:
925:
923:
921:
797:"Chapter XI: University Offices and Grants of Title"
388:
The first mention of the church is a record of King
1561:
1535:
1405:
1179:
1172:
397:. When King's Hall was subsumed by Henry VIII into
294:
289:
279:
269:
257:
245:
240:
232:
224:
216:
211:
203:
193:
188:
172:
160:
148:
140:
124:
34:
770:"Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge (1126084)"
563:in 1870. The organ saw further work in 1963 from
313:parish and university church at the north end of
1610:Church of England church buildings in Cambridge
1357:Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon
1297:All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames, London
1227:Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield
285:St. Mary The Great with St. Michael, Cambridge
1149:
852:
850:
8:
1488:Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent
676:(1973–1979); afterwards Bishop of Manchester
498:of the Church of England. It is a member of
348:In addition to being a parish church in the
1569:Church of St John the Evangelist, Edinburgh
1397:St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton
664:(1959–1963); afterwards Bishop of Salisbury
658:(1955–1959); afterwards Bishop of Southwark
69:
1176:
1156:
1142:
1134:
875:
873:
45:
31:
1620:Grade I listed churches in Cambridgeshire
889:. Longman, Rrown,(sic) Green, and Longman
833:Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
804:Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
1498:Church of St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk
933:"St Mary's University Church, Cambridge"
128:Great St Mary's, The University Church,
754:
1605:History of the University of Cambridge
1600:Culture of the University of Cambridge
1217:Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge
1197:St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham
1052:"Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers"
682:(1979–1986); later Dean of Westminster
352:, it is the university church for the
1625:Grade I listed buildings in Cambridge
1543:Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny
1387:Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
760:
758:
228:13 hung for change ringing (22 total)
7:
1242:Church of St John the Baptist, Frome
455:Various leading philosophers of the
1548:St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff
1307:St Marylebone Parish Church, London
1302:Christ Church, Spitalfields, London
579:The church is designed in the Late
530:, made possible by a donation from
1347:St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden
775:National Heritage List for England
321:, England. It is known locally as
25:
1292:All Saints Church, Fulham, London
1212:St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds
1009:"The Society of Cambridge Youths"
958:"Great St Mary's Parish Profile"
710:(1491–1551), Protestant reformer
616:
475:, was buried there. Under Queen
236:Tenor bell: 24-1-1 (1232kg) in D
68:
61:
1327:All Saints' Church, Northampton
1312:St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
278:
1513:Holy Trinity Church, Southport
911:Annals of Cambridge (Volume 1)
908:Cooper, Charles Henry (1845).
545:Bell-ringing room in the tower
491:Great St Mary's stands in the
448:, followed by further work by
1:
1518:St Wilfrid's Church, Standish
1463:Church of St Andrew, Kildwick
1317:St Mary's Church, Lutterworth
1247:St Wulfram's Church, Grantham
1237:Holy Trinity Church, Coventry
1030:"Martin C. Faulkes Bell Fund"
914:. Cambridge University Press.
598:
422:was built across the street.
380:erected in Britain since the
82:Location in central Cambridge
29:Church in Cambridge, England
1493:St Mary's Church, Nottingham
1443:St Peter's Church, Harrogate
1352:St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury
1287:St Laurence's Church, Ludlow
1272:All Saints' Church, Hertford
1202:St Botolph's Church, Boston
528:Taylors Eayre and Smith Ltd
520:Society of Cambridge Youths
436:The church was restored by
51:Church of St Mary the Great
40:Church of St Mary the Great
1646:
1630:Churches completed in 1519
1483:St Mary's Church, Nantwich
1372:St Mary Magdalene, Taunton
1322:St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
1207:St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
883:The Archaeological Journal
694:Adrian Daffern (2018–2022)
1562:Scottish Episcopal Church
1553:St Giles' Church, Wrexham
1342:St Andrew's Church, Rugby
1192:St Paul's Church, Bedford
1032:. University of Cambridge
880:Venables, Edward (1855).
575:Architecture and features
199:Late Perpendicular Gothic
90:
56:
44:
39:
1615:Anthony Salvin buildings
459:preached there, notably
329:to distinguish it from "
1478:Liverpool Parish Church
1282:St James' Church, Louth
1129:Great St Mary's website
1082:Mander Organs Portfolio
354:University of Cambridge
1590:Major Churches Network
1257:Great Yarmouth Minster
1180:Province of Canterbury
1166:Major Churches Network
967:. Diocese of Ely. 2018
691:John Binns (1994–2017)
674:Stanley Booth-Clibborn
605:
565:Hill, Norman and Beard
557:'Father' Bernard Smith
546:
515:
440:in 1766. In 1850–51 a
385:
337:. It is designated by
697:Jutta Brueck (2023–)
596:
544:
513:
473:Book of Common Prayer
375:
300:The Revd Jutta Brueck
1458:Kendal Parish Church
1382:Waltham Abbey Church
1252:Great Malvern Priory
702:Burials and funerals
630:adding missing items
446:George Gilbert Scott
333:". It is one of the
18:Great St Mary's
1277:King's Lynn Minster
1232:Christchurch Priory
1078:"St Mary the Great"
989:. St Mary the Great
937:Sacred Destinations
738:Holy Trinity Church
581:Perpendicular style
532:Dr Martin C Faulkes
457:English Reformation
444:was carried out by
105: /
1523:Sunderland Minster
1423:Bridlington Priory
1222:Cheltenham Minster
1114:. 21 October 2022.
628:; you can help by
606:
547:
516:
471:'s writing of the
413:associated sacking
386:
358:Cambridge Quarters
341:as a Grade I
109:52.2053°N 0.1182°E
1577:
1576:
1531:
1530:
1503:Rotherham Minster
1433:Doncaster Minster
1267:St Mary, Hadleigh
1173:Church of England
1088:on 6 October 2008
718:Westminster Abbey
646:
645:
467:, who influenced
311:Church of England
307:St Mary the Great
304:
303:
233:Tenor bell weight
155:Church of England
130:Senate House Hill
16:(Redirected from
1637:
1468:Lancaster Priory
1413:Beverley Minster
1406:Province of York
1392:Wimborne Minster
1377:Tewkesbury Abbey
1367:Shrewsbury Abbey
1177:
1158:
1151:
1144:
1135:
1116:
1115:
1104:
1098:
1097:
1095:
1093:
1084:. Archived from
1074:
1068:
1062:
1060:
1058:
1048:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1017:
1015:
1005:
999:
998:
996:
994:
983:
977:
976:
974:
972:
962:
954:
948:
947:
945:
943:
929:
916:
915:
905:
899:
898:
896:
894:
888:
877:
868:
865:
859:
854:
845:
844:
842:
840:
830:
822:
816:
815:
813:
811:
801:
793:
787:
786:
784:
782:
766:Historic England
762:
656:Mervyn Stockwood
641:
638:
620:
619:
613:
603:
600:
536:Cambridge Chimes
500:Inclusive Church
493:Liberal Catholic
409:Peasants' Revolt
339:Historic England
335:Greater Churches
331:Little St Mary's
296:Priest in charge
184:
181:
179:
167:Liberal Catholic
120:
119:
117:
116:
115:
110:
106:
103:
102:
101:
98:
72:
71:
65:
49:
32:
21:
1645:
1644:
1640:
1639:
1638:
1636:
1635:
1634:
1580:
1579:
1578:
1573:
1557:
1536:Church in Wales
1527:
1438:Halifax Minster
1401:
1362:Sherborne Abbey
1262:Grimsby Minster
1168:
1164:Members of the
1162:
1125:
1120:
1119:
1106:
1105:
1101:
1091:
1089:
1076:
1075:
1071:
1056:
1054:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1035:
1033:
1028:
1027:
1023:
1013:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1002:
992:
990:
985:
984:
980:
970:
968:
965:elydatabase.org
960:
956:
955:
951:
941:
939:
931:
930:
919:
907:
906:
902:
892:
890:
886:
879:
878:
871:
866:
862:
855:
848:
838:
836:
828:
824:
823:
819:
809:
807:
799:
795:
794:
790:
780:
778:
764:
763:
756:
751:
729:
714:Stephen Hawking
704:
668:Hugh Montefiore
642:
636:
633:
617:
611:
601:
577:
552:
508:
489:
399:Trinity College
370:
343:listed building
323:Great St Mary's
275:Cambridge North
176:
114:52.2053; 0.1182
113:
111:
107:
104:
99:
96:
94:
92:
91:
86:
85:
84:
83:
80:
79:
78:
77:
76:Great St Mary's
73:
52:
35:Great St Mary's
30:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1643:
1641:
1633:
1632:
1627:
1622:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1582:
1581:
1575:
1574:
1572:
1571:
1565:
1563:
1559:
1558:
1556:
1555:
1550:
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1537:
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1529:
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1526:
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1520:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1485:
1480:
1475:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1428:Cartmel Priory
1425:
1420:
1415:
1409:
1407:
1403:
1402:
1400:
1399:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1374:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1332:Pershore Abbey
1329:
1324:
1319:
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1304:
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1279:
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1269:
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1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
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1189:
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1174:
1170:
1169:
1163:
1161:
1160:
1153:
1146:
1138:
1132:
1131:
1124:
1123:External links
1121:
1118:
1117:
1108:"Appointments"
1099:
1069:
1043:
1021:
1000:
978:
949:
917:
900:
869:
860:
846:
817:
788:
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750:
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746:
745:
735:
728:
725:
724:
723:
720:
711:
703:
700:
699:
698:
695:
692:
689:
683:
677:
671:
665:
659:
653:
650:Philip Waggett
644:
643:
623:
621:
610:
609:List of vicars
607:
576:
573:
551:
548:
507:
504:
488:
485:
469:Thomas Cranmer
450:Anthony Salvin
369:
366:
350:Diocese of Ely
302:
301:
298:
292:
291:
287:
286:
283:
277:
276:
273:
267:
266:
261:
255:
254:
249:
243:
242:
241:Administration
238:
237:
234:
230:
229:
226:
222:
221:
218:
214:
213:
212:Specifications
209:
208:
205:
201:
200:
197:
191:
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185:
174:
170:
169:
164:
158:
157:
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88:
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50:
42:
41:
37:
36:
28:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1642:
1631:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1618:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1587:
1585:
1570:
1567:
1566:
1564:
1560:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1540:
1538:
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1524:
1521:
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1516:
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1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
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1484:
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1479:
1476:
1474:
1473:Leeds Minster
1471:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1418:Bolton Priory
1416:
1414:
1411:
1410:
1408:
1404:
1398:
1395:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1380:
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1375:
1373:
1370:
1368:
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1325:
1323:
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1313:
1310:
1308:
1305:
1303:
1300:
1298:
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1283:
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1275:
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1255:
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1243:
1240:
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1230:
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1225:
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1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1184:
1182:
1178:
1175:
1171:
1167:
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1145:
1140:
1139:
1136:
1130:
1127:
1126:
1122:
1113:
1109:
1103:
1100:
1087:
1083:
1079:
1073:
1070:
1066:
1053:
1047:
1044:
1031:
1025:
1022:
1010:
1004:
1001:
988:
982:
979:
966:
959:
953:
950:
938:
934:
928:
926:
924:
922:
918:
913:
912:
904:
901:
885:
884:
876:
874:
870:
864:
861:
858:
853:
851:
847:
835:. p. 178
834:
827:
821:
818:
806:. p. 680
805:
798:
792:
789:
777:
776:
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727:See also
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125:Location
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173:Website
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